CWC to stand with UNP

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2000, 20:58 GMT]
Five parliamentarians of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), a major partner of the ruling People's Alliance (PA) government joined the main opposition, United National Party (UNP) on Friday. They are to contest on UNP tickets in the forthcoming general elections.
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SLMC decision to withdraw stands

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2000, 12:15 GMT]
The decision of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), to quit from the People's Alliance (PA) government, stands until its leader M.H.M.Ashraff returns from a pilgrimage to Mecca, according to SLMC sources.
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Husband 'missing' for two months

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2000, 12:14 GMT]
A fifty five year old woman Sokkalingam Saraswathi has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Kalmunai in the south-east of the island that her husband has been 'missing' for about two months. Sandirapillai Rasangam,60, was working in a jewellery shop at Mutur.
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SLMC to contest on PA list

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2000, 09:17 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has agreed to contest the forthcoming general election under the Peoples Alliance (PA) said Mr.D.M.Jayaratne, General Secretary of the PA in a statement.
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PA to contest in northeast

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2000, 12:53 GMT]
The ruling People's Alliance (PA) has decided to field candidates in all districts, including northeast of the island in the next parliamentary elections, Mr.D.M.Jayaretna General Secretary of the PA said Sunday.
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Parliament dissolved, polls October 10

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2000, 08:11 GMT]
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga issued a proclamation Friday dissolving parliament with effect from midnight under powers vested in her by Article 70 of the Sri Lankan Constitution. Nominations for the polls will be called from August 28 to September 4 according to the proclamation. The date for the general election has been set for October 10. The new (eleventh) Parliament of Sri Lanka will meet on October 18 after the conclusion of the elections.
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Former Norwegian PM will not speak to leaders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 12:50 GMT]
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Mr.Kjell Magne Bondevik will not hold talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe as scheduled, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said Thursday.
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SLMC member receives junior minister post

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2000, 18:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Parliamentarian U.L.M.Mohideen was sworn in Wednesday as Deputy Minister for Social Services in front of the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. Mr.Mohideen is one of the parliamentarians representing the south-eastern Ampara district.
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Eight Ampara villagers held

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2000, 18:26 GMT]
Eight Tamils from a remote village of Thumbankerny in Thikkodai in the south-eastern Ampara District were arrested by the Sri Lankan police on Tuesday, according to the local office of the government-funded Human Rights Commission, but a senior police officer denied the arrests had taken place.
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Former Norwegian PM visits Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2000, 21:45 GMT]
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik will arrive in Colombo on a two day visit Wednesday afternoon. During his stay in Colombo he will have talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe.
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SLAF steps up bombing in Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2000, 10:50 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has stepped up bombing raids in the Vanni said sources in the northern border town Vavuniya. The said SLAF jets flew several sorties today towards the northern Vanni region they said.
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Prime Minister retires

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2000, 06:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike,84, retired from office Thursday. Minister for Public Administration, Home Affairs and Plantation Industries Ratnasiri Wickramanayake has been appointed by the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge as the new Prime Minister.
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Conspiracy theory as vote adjourned

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2000, 21:19 GMT]
Two Ministers Sarath Amunugama and Mahinda Wijesekara raising a point of order told Parliament today that there was a conspiracy to prevent Parliamentarians from voting for the Draft Constitution Bill. They informed the Speaker K.B.Ratnayake that some parliamentarians were sent abroad.
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Government abandons constitution bill

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2000, 09:04 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government abandoned Tuesday its effort to introduce a new constitution. Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka, Minister for Public Administration and Plantations, informed the party leaders' meeting in Parliament today that the new constitution bill will not be further debated nor put to vote. The decision is yet to be announced on the floor of the house by the speaker.
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Another opposition MP joins government

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2000, 06:54 GMT]
Another opposition MP crossed over to the government during the debate on the new constitution bill in the Sri Lankan Parliament Tuesday amidst general pandemonium in the house. The United National Party raised a point of order that the Mervyn de Silva, the MP who crossed over, was given an opportunity to speak as soon as he had sat in the government benches. The UNP accused Silva of taking a large bribe from the government for crossing over.
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Opposition MPs heckle President, tear bill

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2000, 07:04 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President spoke on the controversial constitution reform bill in Parliament Thursday morning amidst much clamour in the opposition ranks. The bill was tabled by Justice Minister Prof.G.L Pieris. United National Party members tore copies of the bill in protest and threw them at government members in the house sources said.
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SLAF searches suburbs of Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2000, 13:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) personnel and police sealed off Puthunakar, Sethukudha and Veechukalmunai, suburbs of Batticaloa, and conducted a house to house search operation from 5 a.m. till 11 a.m. Wednesday.
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No confidence motion against speaker by UNP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 July 2000, 17:14 GMT]
The no-confidence motion brought against the Speaker, Mr.K.B.Ratnayakae, by the United National Party has been included in the order book. The date for the debate on the motion will be decided at the party leaders' meeting to be held on the 10th of next month.
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Foremost place to Buddhism guaranteed -SL govt

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 July 2000, 20:48 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government Wednesday said that there is no truth in newspaper reports that Buddhism has no place in its proposed new constitution. Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka MP, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs said that the government's proposals for constitutional change do not alter the "foremost place" given to Buddhism in Sri Lanka's constitution. Tamil political parties say that Article 9 of Sri Lanka's constitution that guarantees Buddhism the foremost place is a major obstacle in drawing up even a "minimally acceptable" scheme for regional autonomy.
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UNP gives notice of motion of no confidence in Speaker

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 July 2000, 16:18 GMT]
The main Opposition party of the Sri Lankan parliament, United National Party (UNP) has given notice of a no confidence motion against the speaker of the House, K.B.Ratnayake, Friday. The UNP sent a letter to the parliament secretary with the signature of 41 MPs, claiming that the speaker has "failed to uphold the Traditions, Precedents, Practices, conventions and Standing Orders of the House."
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